Archives for February 2010

Early this week, my 7 year old VOLUNTEERED ME to give a presentation about Chinese New Year to his school class.

Apparently he thought that I knew everything there is to know about the subject of being Chinese.

Now. This whole thing is rather funny for the people who know me.

Because… I know CLOSE TO NOTHING about Chinese New Year, except the things my family practice, which – for a long time – I have waved off as being silly, daggy, folky stuff.

I can’t even speak Chinese! Cantonese or Mandarin!

No, wait. I can say, “Ni Hao! Wo Ai Ni!” which means, “Hello! I love you!” And a few swear words of course.

So sure enough, the night before it was due, I was cutting and pasting from Wikipedia and Googling for images to finish my primary school homework! How humiliating!

To make matters worse… there are 8 kids in my son’s class who are actually ethnically Chinese, from China, Singapore and Malaysia, who probably know how to speak more Chinese than me!

And they probably also knew MORE about the traditions, customs, meanings and stories surrounding Chinese New Year.

And crap, it would be terribly embarrassing if they blew my cover.

So. I decided to take on a bit of Chinese Aunty credibility by wearing my bright red cheong sum. It was a kind of dress that said – All Hail The Chinese Woman! Don’t cross her path or she’ll whip out her invisible flying swords! That’ll teach those pesky kids with difficult questions!

Then I thought, Oh god, how embarrassing is this going to be? I’m going to walk across the school yard dressed like this, and everyone is going to think I’m the local expert on all things Chinese! They are going to invite me to school cultural dinners and other classroom talks and they are going to parade me in front of everyone and make me say things in Chinese (“Wo Ai Ni Everyone!”) and give out char siew bows (roast pork buns)! Eeeek! What am I getting myself into!?

Anyway.

That morning, at home, before the presentation, my 7 year old said to me,

“Mum I like your dress. But your split is so high, I think I can see your knickers.”

“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! This split is NOT HIGH! Look! You can’t see my knickers!!”

And my husband had the cheek to say “If you don’t want people to see your knickers, maybe you shouldn’t wear any?”

GAH! MEN!

Despite everything, the presentation went wonderfully well.

I started by saying “Ni Hao! That’s what Chinese people say for hello!”

Oh I could barely stand the irony of it all! I sounded just like a children’s TV show host.

I brought props like Ang Pows, two oranges (my local fruit store didn’t sell mandarins), pictures of a lion dance and I even had print-outs for everyone of a Chinese Zodiac Chart with all the animals and dates – which I had to make myself in Photoshop.

The Chinese kids seemed really happy that their classmates were learning about things they already knew about.

I had one Chinese kid say, “We call them HONG BAOS not ANG POWS.” And I explained to everyone that Chinese have different dialects, and how they both mean the same thing – red packet.

And the teacher goes “Wow, are you a Chinese language teacher?”

(Oh the sweet sweet irony.)

And some other Chinese kid said, “What’s that thing that adults do… for lots of happiness? My mum told me about it. It’s all mixed up?”

I double blinked and paused… as I tried to find an answer to his question by sifting through the flashing images of “mixed-up adult behavior”… none of which was suitable for discussion in a primary school classroom.

Then I said, “UH. Maybe she told you about the fish salad??? They serve this special fish salad, and all the adults reach into the center of the table and toss it with chop sticks, and shout happy sayings?”

“Yes, that’s it!” said the kid.

Good save Karen! And I proceeded to guide the conversation away from any other possible adult things adults might do for lots of happiness.

I went on to tell the class about “Double Happiness”, which was a concept that the teacher really liked. Thank god she didn’t ask me to write the Chinese characters for it on the board, or my cover would have totally been blown!

Maybe I would have just drawn some random scribble, and hoped no one noticed.

Phew anyway, that’s the end of my story. Thank god that’s over.

So here’s me wishing you all Double Happiness and a sensational mixed fish salad!

(The cheong sum was my wedding banquet dress, hand-made by a very nice lady in Maylands.)

If I had to list some fashion labels that have influenced, inspired and shaped my personal style – one of them would definitely have to be Rick Owens.

American born, now based in Paris, his women’s label is heavily rock-inspired chic, minimal, drapey, edgy yet feminine. He’s often talked about as being a trend-setter of trend-setters, and one of the few designers who is worthy of sitting on the pointiest end of fashion.

OK, perhaps some of his clothes are possibly too edgy (and expensive) for me, but his latest SS10 collection is just gorgeous. Gah, it’s more than gorgeous, it’s sublime. I can seriously feel myself considering what I could go without (like my family’s summer holiday) in order to buy one of his jackets.

1. Heat oil in a large, deep fry pan, add chicken or salmon. Cook until just browned, remove and drain

2. Add onion to the pan and cook until soft and golden. Add rice, tomatoes, saffron. Stir for 1 minute on a medium heat.

3. If using chicken, put it into the pan. Stir in chickpeas, green beans, capsicum and stock. Cook for 15 minutes uncovered. Don’t stir!

4. Stir in salmon, prawns, and other seafood. Leave it to cook uncovered for 10 minutes, or until the rice and seafood is cooked. I like to leave it for a bit longer to get the base crisp and caramelised. Don’t stir!

5. Serve up, Sprinkle with parsley, squeeze lemon on top.

Note: One time, I ran out of saffron, and I used ½ teaspoon of turmeric instead. Then I thought, what the heck, and also added ½ teaspoon of cumin, and a pinch of cinnamon and paprika. Not very authentic, but damn it tasted good.

(This recipe is based on a recipe published by the Heart Foundation Australia)

I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting to Fenalla Peacock, one of the creative forces behind London fashion label Antipodium.

In 2006, Antipodium first launched a small collection of chic basics in London, designed to fill what they saw as a gap in the market. The clothes were an immediate success, and following London Fashion Week the same year, Antipodium received significant high praise and fans like high profile model Alexa Chung.

Personally, I really adore the simple forms, quirky details and effortlessly cool style that is signature to all Antipodium’s collections. Their collections look like a wonderful mishmash of art and pop culture, mixed up with fashion and irreverent charm!

I got a sneak peek into Antipodium’s latest AW 2010 “Ab Fab” Collection – born from a collaboration with 4 indigenous artists in the remote West Australian outback.

The result was a collection of striking pieces in bright colours, prints and muted basics. I love their tongue in cheek garment names like: Up Chick Creek, Ab-Original Tee, Hook Up Dress.

Last year I made some new year resolutions. If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I do this every year. It helps me feel that I’m growing as a person, and that I’m making the most of life. And I’ve always loved the idea of looking back, making conclusions, and planning for the future.

Last year, I was focusing on life balance.

I wasn’t sure that having a balanced life was actually possible – seeing that I was going to HAVE A BABY and be thrown into the role of new-motherhood for the third time again. I was also juggling 2 other small children and my life was all about nappies, groceries, dinner, picking up kids, and sports.

But I was determined to develop my great interest in fashion, to educate myself about the art and craft of it, and become part of the fashion scene – and it has been awesome! I’ve met a heap of cool, inspiring, weird and colourful people, tried on a LOT of great clothes, been to some fabulous parties, and then always glad to be home again.

So the whole idea of “Living a Balanced Life” has been a great big success for me, and I’ve never felt so relaxed and on top of things as I do now!

However, there were many instances in all this balanced living, when I didn’t enjoy feeling like a Chinese acrobat – finely balancing multiple, spinning plates on sticks… in a constant state of frantic anxiety. If any of the plates would slightly tip over, everything would collapse and fall, all hell would break loose! Disaster! Catastrophe! A huge mess! And I have to pick up all the pieces and start over.

I wasted so much of my energy on stress and regret.

In the end, I learned not to expect so much of myself, not to be so up-tight when things go wrong, and just enjoy life! I forgave myself quickly when I made mistakes. I focused on the things that were important. I planned. I got very organised. And everything else fell into place.

After that, balance just came naturally.

It’s a part of my everyday life, and now I invest in keeping it that way.

This year I’m looking for something MORE.

Something beyond balance.

Is that possible? Do I want too much?

I am a mother of three children, I write about lifestyle and fashion, I have a social life, I am active in my community, I love to indulge in my interests like cooking and photography, I love to snuggle up with my husband and have long conversations…

Clearly, I have plenty to be satisfied with. I am a very blessed person.

When I remember the experience of my husband’s cancer, when I hear about the many tragedies in the world, and people who are suffering awful misfortune, and when I am reminded that my children are growing up so fast – I am inspired to make the MOST of my current good fortune.

This year I want to try something a bit different.

I want to live with style and spirit.

I freely admit that I don’t exactly know HOW to do this right now.

I do know that I want to live a magnificent, inspiring, motivated, productive and passionate life!

So I’m going to explore it over the next few months. And I’m zippy with excitement!

I hope you’ll join me on this journey!

And I hope this will somehow spark something in you that will make 2010 a wonderful year for you and the people you love!

I had two tickets to attend a very big Chinese New Year Gala Ball on the weekend, and of course, I was planning to take my favourite date, my husband.

But an hour before we were due to get in the car, the babysitter rang and said she had to cancel. Argh!

So. Suddenly, my husband was the babysitter!

And I needed a date at very short notice!

I decided to take my eldest son, Callum, who is almost seven years old.

Sounds crazy right? But what else was I going to do? Waste a ticket – No! Ring old boyfriends? Twist the arm of my boy cousins? Drag along my gay friend, who is really more of a girl friend? Ask the hot-looking, single guy who lives down the road (who I have never actually spoken to)? Yeah right.

Attending this event is a fairly important family tradition for me, so I figured that it was a great opportunity to introduce it to my FIRST BORN SON.

Was I really going to take a SEVEN YEAR OLD to a posh ball? I mean, whatever happened, it would be my own fault. So I tried not to think about it too much.

As I rushed around getting ready, my husband showed Callum the secret man-business of tying a tie. And under fastidious questioning, my husband had to admit that YES, TIES ARE RATHER STUPID.

Callum was quite uncomfortable with the tie and having to wear his shirt tucked into his pants. But I could see that he was also very excited to be suddenly entering the mysterious world of adults.

Once we were at the event, my son had a great time. He saw the inside of a huge grand hotel ballroom, he chatted to many adults in my community, he ate the full ten course dinner, he covered his ears during the lion dance, and boogied with me on the dance floor.

It was quite nice for me to see the whole CNY Ball experience through new eyes.

But I have to confess, it was a very unusual date because I have never before…

For me, I grew up in a typical Asian culture, where it was not normal to show intimate, loving affection to your partner in public – especially not in front of the children!

So I guess, for all of my adult life, I’ve been discovering and developing my own language of love. And it has been interesting to see just how different I am to my husband.

His language of love is so much more open, natural, tender and spontaneous than mine. It’s been 10 years since we fell in love, and he still expresses his affection for me with silly antics.

I mean, heart shaped toasts?!

He made this, then put it back into the bread bag so I would find it in the morning, after he went to work.

I suppose I have a more practical way of looking at things – because I instantly thought:

Those damn kids! How on earth will my egg sit on my bread?!
Oh wait. It’s a heart shape. Why on earth is there a heart on my bread??
Oh wait I get it.
Andrew made it for me? Why on earth would he…
OH RIGHT!
What a sweetheart he is.